UPDATE:
Finally!! The First Saturday on December 7th will be held at the shrine. Fr. Michael Sheehan will say Mass and hear confessions. He will also re-bless the shrine for us. We plan on beginning the day at 8:00 am with adoration accompanied by a guided meditation for 15 minutes on some of the mysteries of the Rosary. Mass will start at 9:00 am followed by the Rosary. Depending on the weather and construction we may even have a procession. Our usual coffee and Holiday Fellowship will follow with seasonal song. The season of Advent is here and we hope to have the shrine reflect that in some way as we begin to move back in. I ask for your patience and prayers while we prepare the shrine. Our plan is to move a little at a time so bear with us as it could take a couple months before we are up and running to full capacity. Parking is available in the back parking lot behind the new building. At this time of year we ask that you beware of the weather as well. Please enter the shrine from Washington St. there will be an opening in the fence. A reminder that the site will still be under construction and the Monastery Rd. may or may not be opened at this time. The shrine looks great with all the new work done and we will have our annual Christmas flowers adorning the statue of Our Lady of Fatima. I want to thank everyone for their prayers and patience, and especially thank God for this holy place where many graces flow. It is good to be back!
SUNDAY ROSARY.
We will begin to have the Sunday Rosary for Peace at the shrine again beginning on December 1st, which is the First Sunday of Advent and wish to thank St. Elizabeth’s hospital chapel for allowing us to come there on Sundays while the shrine was closed.
The shrine has undergone a badly needed face-lift after 50 years, however there is much more that needs to be done. We have started to replace some of the old furniture and are looking to replace more of the old liturgical items, such as new altar setups, processional crucifix, incense boat, among many other things. All these things have significant cost and we are praying that many consider a donation to help defray the cost as we approach the end of the year. I remind everyone that we are tax deductible charity and welcome any and all gifts you would consider. One of the other cost that we are considering is to have an old altar, priest chairs and 2 pews from the monastery and church refinished. We have a quote to do this but is expensive, so keep us in mind with your holiday giving plans. From the board of The Crusaders of Fatima we wish you the very best in the upcoming holiday season and please stop by the shrine to see all that has been done when you have a chance. And please continue to pray above all else. We all have much to be grateful for.
At Fatima both the Angel and Our Lady asked for sacrifices for sinners. They said, “Sacrifice yourself.” The Angel of Fatima, too, told the three children to “Offer prayers and sacrifices constantly to the Most High. Make of everything you can a sacrifice, and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners. Above all, accept and bear with submission the sufferings which the Lord will send you.”
